Filing and personal record keeping folder

ABSTRACT

A combination filing and personal record keeping and storing folder for use in facilitating preparation of income tax returns made of a single piece of cardboard and including a single thickness cover panel having descriptive listings of major expense transactions thereon, folded over a double thickness body panel separated from the cover panel by a main fold area and in which the overlying thickness portion of the body panel is provided with a line of interrupted cut outs of the central zone thereof defining a row of pocket mouths separated by expansion permitting webs, the free end of the overlying thickness being folded under and adhesively secured to the underlying thickness along a line spaced from the fold area so as to provide an expandable pocket bottom with the portion of the overlying thickness on the other side of the line of cut outs being adhesively secured to the underlying thickness. An integral identification accommodating tab cut out of the material of the overlying thickness of the body panel is not folded over so that it projects outwardly of the free edge of the body panel.

Casas et al.

[ Oct. 8, 1974 FILING AND PERSONAL RECORD KEEPING FOLDER [76} lnventors: Richard J. Casas, 5 Cerezo St.;

Guillermo .1. Tons, Malaga 834, both of Guaynabo, PR. 00657 [22] Filed: May 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 249,938

[52] US. Cl 40/359, 229/72, 281/31 [51] Int. Cl. 365d 31/00 [58] Field of Search 40/359; 281/31, 26;

283/12, 66 R, 66 A, 55; 206/1 A, 38, 39, 37 A, 44 B, 63; 229/72; 35/74 R, 74 A Primary ExaminerJ. H. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wilfred G. Caldwell 5 7 ABSTRACT A combination filing and personal record keeping and storing folder for use in facilitating preparation of income tax returns made of a single piece of cardboard and including a single thickness cover panel having descriptive listings of major expense transactions thereon, folded over a double thickness body panel separated from the cover panel by a main fold area and in which the overlying thickness portion of the body panel is provided with a line of interrupted cut outs of the central zone thereof defining a row of pocket mouths separated by expansion permitting webs, the free end of the overlying thickness being folded under and adhesively secured to the underlying thickness along a line spaced from the fold area so as to provide an expandable pocket bottom with the portion of the overlying thickness on the other side of the line of cut outs being adhesively secured to the underlying thickness. An integral identification accommodating tab cut out of the material of the overlying thickness of the body panel is not folded over so that it projects outwardly of the free edge of the body panel.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEDBBT 81914 3.839,,809

' sum 1w PAIENIEB 0U 81974 SHEEY 3 BF 3 MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRlL mwmEmOmo PEG 9. mqwr IPZOE mik mwmohoo wuzjdm mzizamm FILING AND PERSONAL RECORD KEEPING FOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates broadly to the art of paper or paper board files. More particularly the invention relates to a combination filing and personal record keeping folder.

There are numerous file folders or envelopes in use in which personal records such as receipts, cancelled checks, monthly statements and the like are stored. Likewise, there are ledger books and booklets in which one can record various expenditure records.

However, it is desirable that a record storing or keeping adjunct be available which can not only store or contain personal records, receipts, cancelled checks, and the like but can also include an area whereon expense information can be listed in such relation as to facilitate preparation of tax returns.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION Accordingly the invention provides a filing and record keeping folder which on one panel is provided with expandable pockets to receive receipts, cancelled checks, monthly statements and the like while the other panel provides a cover for the pockets and contains applicable record keeping information.

Specifically the filing and record keeping folder of this invention is a one-piece structure of cardboard, paperboard or other similar material and includes an expandable pocket-carrying panel, a foldable cover panel and an integral tab projecting outwardly of the pocket carrying panel.

The pocket-carrying panel is provided with a plurality of expandable pockets, three or four, depending upon whether the folder is letter size or legal size and the foldable cover panel contains descriptive listings of all major types of transactions and lines accomodating notation of the amounts of such transactions on a monthly and an accumulative basis so as to provide accurate records for income tax returns.

The folder includes two panel sections creased to fold together and the expandable pockets are formed by folding another panel section to overlie one of the first two sections. This last mentioned section is provided in its central zone with a line of cut-out portions separated by webs that define pocket mouths. An edge is folded under to define a securing flap and a spacer portion permitting expansion. The securing flap and the portion of the section beyond the line of cut-outs are adhesively secured to the underlying panel section. With this relationship the pocket portions can expand outwardly of the underlying panel to receive documents. When the other panel is folded into covering relation the pocket portions retract so as to press the documents or receipts inside same to provide a snug, neat and compact assembly.

The integral tab to receive identifying notations is formed from a portion cut out of the pocket-forming section that projects beyond the line of fold at the marginal edge of the folder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination filing and record keeping and storing folder of the invention illustrating the same in unfolded condition,

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectioned view taken generally along line 22 of FIG. 1, illustrating the folder in unfolded flattened condition and with the pocket forming portion shown in expanded relation in dotdash lines,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the folder of FIG. 1 illustrating the record keeping data and listing space on the cover panel, and

FIG. 4 is a similar view illustrating a folder that ineludes three pockets on one panel and the record keeping data and listing space on the cover panel arranged in groups of four monthly sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION.

The combination filing and record keeping folder of the invention is formed from a single blank of cardboard that is suitably cut, scored, folded and glued to provide a two panel folder with one panel having a multiplicity of expandable record accommodating pockets or compartments thereon.

The size of the blank will depend upon whether the folder is to be letter size or legal size. There are three pockets on the interior of the letter size folder and four pockets on the legal size folder.

Thus a single blank is of a size to provide three panel sections A, B and C. Panel Section A is the cover panel and on the inner face 1 thereof is printed descriptive listings of major expense transactions and monthly headings arranged in groups extending transversely across the panel. Lines are provided to list amounts on a monthly and an accumulative basis. Two spaced crease lines 2 and 3 separate panel section A and B and permit section A to fold and unfold relative to panel B. Panel C is cut out at 4 to define a tab forming portion T and a score line defines a hinge S by which panel C folds over panel B leaving the tab forming projection extending beyond the marginal edge of panel B.

The central zone of Panel C is provided with a line of interrupted cut-outs 6, either three or four depending upon the size of the folder. These cut-outs define pocket mouths. The interruptions between adjacent cut-outs and at the top and bottom of the panel provide webs 7 that permit expansion of the pocket forming portions. The free end portion of panel C is scored and folded at 8 to define a flap D. This flap is creased along a line at 9 to provide an expansion strip 10 between fold 8 and crease line 9. This strip has the same width as the extent of the webs 7. The portion 11 of the flap D beyond crease line 9 is adhesively secured to the face of panel B and the portion 12 of panel C beyond the line of cut-outs is also adhesively secured to the face of panel B. Thus the folder is in reality a single thickness cover panel and a double thickness body panel with the pocket forming portion of one thickness of the body panel being free to move relative to its other thickness. The face of each pocket is provided with a printed listing of the months, arranged in groups of three or four months each, depending upon the number of pockets in the folder.

The folder shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 embodies four pockets F and documents such as cancelled checks, credit cards, other receipts, and monthly statements are shown diagrammatically at E in FIG. 1 as extending out of the mouths of the pockets.

The folder of FIG. 4 includes only three pockets G and the monthly listing as at 12 on the faces thereof includes four months.

The pocket mouths are approximately 3%; inches wide. Each pocket is approximately 3- /2 inches deep when the pockets are fully expanded as shown by dotdash lines in FIG. 2. The Panel A of a generally legal size folder is approximately 15 inches long by 8 /2 inches wide when folded to overlie panels B and C. Back panel B is approximately 8 inches wide. The tab forming portion in one embodiment is approximately 7 inches wide and projects outwardly about three-fourths inch from the marginal edge of the double thickness body panel. The tab is illustrated as being provided adjacent one edge of the folder but it is to be understood that the same can be provided at different locations along the body of the folder.

Where three pockets are provided the folder has the same width dimensions but its length is approximately 12 inches.

The dimensions given herein are understood to be exemplary and in no sense are they to be construed to be limiting.

In utilizing the invention one saves all receipts, monthyl statements, cancelled checks and like documents and slides them into the appropriate pockets. Monthly the information on these documents is tabulated and listed in the appropriate spaces on the inner face of the cover panel. At the end of the year all appropriate documents and tabulations for major expense transactions are available for use in preparation of tax returns.

The folder of the invention is ideally suited for accomodating credit card receipts and provides a neat and compact storage facility therefor.

What is claimed is:

l. A combination filing and personal record keeping and storing folder comprising an elongate rectangular one piece structure of paperboard, cardboard or similar material and including a cover panel portion and a body panel portion foldably interconnected with the cover panel portion along a lateral fold line, said body panel portion comprising a double thickness of material having an underlying thickness contiguous with the cover panel portion and an upper thickness folded over laterally to extend from a marginal outer edge toward the cover panel portion, said upper thickness having a row of interrupted cut-outs therein extending laterally along a central zone thereof and generally parallel to the marginal outer edge to define a series of spaced apart document accommodating pocket mouths, the lateral regions of upper thickness between the pocket mouths comprising webs, the end portion of said upper thickness being folded along two spaced parallel fold lines to comprise a pocket bottom-forming area between the fold lines and to comprise an adjacent securing strip terminating the end portion, said securing strip being adhesively connected to the underlying thickness in spaced relation to the foldable interconnection with the cover panel, and the portion of said upper thickness between said row of interrupted cut-outs and said marginal outer edge being secured to the underlying thickness whereby said webs and pocket bottom-forming area permit pocket expansion and retraction by movement of the region of upper thickness between the row of cut-outs and securing strip away from and toward the marginal outer edge. 

1. A combination filing and personal record keeping and storing folder comprising an elongate rectangular one piece structure of paperboard, cardboard or similar material and including a cover panel portion and a body panel portion foldably interconnected with the cover panel portion along a lateral fold line, said body panel portion comprising a double thickness of material having an underlying thickness contiguous with the cover panel portion and an upper thickness folded over laterally to extend from a marginal outer edge toward the cover panel portion, said upper thickness having a row of interrupted cut-outs therein extending laterally along a central zone thereof and generally parallel to the marginal outer edge to define a series of spaced apart document accommodating pocket mouths, the lateral regions of upper thickness between the pocket mouths comprising webs, the end portion of said upper thickness being folded along two spaced parallel fold lines to comprise a pocket bottom-forming area between the fold lines and to comprise an adjacent securing strip terminating the end portion, said securing strip being adhesively connected to the underlying thickness in spaced relation to the foldable interconnection with the cover panel, and the portion of said upper thickness between said row of interrupted cut-outs and said marginal outer edge being secured to the underlying thickness whereby said webs and pocket bottom-forming area permit pocket expansion and retraction by movement of the region of upper thickness between the row of cut-outs and securing strip away from and toward the marginal outer edge. 